Zuid Holland ready for the Eels

A Zuid (South) Holland representative side are set to face English Nat3 visitors Pro Plumb Essex Eels on saturday March 19th in the Dutch town of Hoek van Holland.

The Eels include in their 19 man squad JC Roche from the American Washington Slayers club and Holland international Mike Muir along side young
prop Danny Smith, a product of the Eels youth programme, who is set to sign academy forms for the London Broncos.

This will be the second time coach Stuart Hogg has supported the development in the Netherlands as the Essex side first visited the country back in 2003 when Ter Werve Den Haag were the opposition.

Saturdays game looks like being a lot closer than that 64-12 romp as Zuid Holland will field no less than seven of the National team that beat Serbia in the 2004 Rotterdam Cup.
Hooker Dirk Schut and giant center turned second rower Ronald van der Broek will be out to impress and stake their claim for a place in the Netherlands squad to face Georgia on April 29th.

Making their debut are four young players from the Hoek van Holland club who missed last weeks trial game between the Hookers and Rotterdam due to holidays.
These guys, all aged under 22, will add pace to the Dutch three quarters and hopefully compliment the big Zuid Holland pack.

On sunday the Eels will be holding a coaching clinic for young players aged between 10 and 16 before heading back to the UK that evening.

The Dutch meanwhile will continue their preperation for the Georgia game when they will be strengthened by their Australian and UK based team mates.